Drinking tube for remote liquid reservoir having a cap which fits bottles of different sizes

ABSTRACT

A remote drinking apparatus includes a cap assembly having at least two concentric bottle caps molded, preferably, as a single unit, a connector tube, which passes concentrically-through the cap assembly, and which is preferably molded unitary with the concentric bottle caps, a drinking tube, which connects to the upper end of the connector tube, and can be routed to the mouth of an athlete or patient, an extender tube, which slideably connects to the lower end of the connector tube, and an aperture or valve, which prevents liquid within a container from spilling, yet allows air to enter a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said bottle caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to drinking devices and, more particularly, to those of the type having a tube connected to a remote liquid reservoir.

2. History of the Prior Art

Athletes engaged in physically strenuous sports for extended periods must frequently drink water or other fluids in order to replace those lost to perspiration and metabolic processes. Back-mounted liquid reservoirs having a drinking tube running to the mouth of the athlete have become very popular among runners, bikers, and hikers. As a general rule, the reservoir is a flexible plastic or rubber bag which is used over and over again. One of the problems associated with these drinking reservoirs is that most plastic materials absorb odors and flavors. The odors and flavors are typically aromatic organic compounds that diffuse through the plastic material. In effect, they become an integral part of the plastic material. As long as only water is used to fill the flexible bag, no odors or flavors are transferred to the plastic material. However, whenever the flexible bag is filled with a flavored drink, the flavor is absorbed by the plastic material from which the bag is fabricated. Even though the bag may be thoroughly washed, the next time the bag is filled with a liquid—whether it be water or another flavored drink, the flavor molecules will begin to outdiffuse from the plastic material into the new drink, thereby imparting the flavors of previous drinks to the new liquid. The only ways to prevent the transfer of unwanted odors and flavors to new drinks is to either use only water or replace the reservoir with each use. Although it might be possible to drink the liquid from the container in which it is supplied, such a procedure would generally limit the choices of drinks, as there is no single size standard opening for drink containers. For example, purified water is typically supplied in plastic bottles having a small diameter opening, while electrolyte-replacement drinks, such as Gatorade® are supplied in containers having a much larger diameter opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a remote drinking apparatus that enables an athlete or bedridden individual to drink liquid through a tube from containers of various sizes. The remote drinking apparatus includes a cap assembly having at least two concentric bottle caps molded, preferably, as a single unit. For a preferred embodiment of the invention, the innermost bottle cap is sized to fit the mouth of handheld containers in which purified water is sold, while the outermost outmost bottle cap is sized to fit the mouth of handheld containers in which electrolyte-replacement drinks, such as Gatorade®, is sold. The apparatus also includes a connector tube, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly, and which is preferably molded unitary with the concentric bottle caps. A drinking tube, which connects to the upper end of the connector tube, can be routed to the mouth of an athlete or patient. The apparatus also includes an extender tube, which slideably connects to the lower end of the connector tube. The extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottles so that the bottle may be completely drained. The cap assembly also incorporates an aperture with or without a one-way valve, which prevents liquid within a container from spilling, yet nearly equalizes the pressure within the container with the ambient atmospheric pressure as fluid is withdrawn from the a bottle to which the apparatus is secured. The only limitation on the number and size of the concentric caps is that the cylindrical wall of a particular included cap must have sufficient clearance between it and the adjoining inner concentric cap to permit the mouth of the container associated with the particular cap to fit between them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (PHOTOGRAPHS)

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment remote drinking apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment remote drinking apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the first embodiment remote drinking apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment remote drinking apparatus secured to a bottle of the type in which electrolyte-replacement drinks are sold; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment remote drinking apparatus secured to a bottle of the type in which purified water is sold.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The new remote drinking apparatus will now be described with reference to the attached drawing figures.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the remote drinking apparatus 100 includes a cap assembly 101 having at least two concentric bottle caps 102A and 102B preferably molded as a single unit. For a preferred embodiment of the invention, the innermost bottle cap 102A has an inner diameter of about 2.8575 cm (1.125 inches), being sized to fit the mouth of handheld bottles, or containers, in which purified water is sold. The outermost outmost bottle cap 102B has an inner diameter of about 4.13 cm (1.625 inches), being sized to fit the mouth of handheld containers in which electrolyte-replacement drinks, such as Gatorade®, is sold. The cap assembly 101 also incorporates a spring-loaded, one-way valve 103A, which prevents liquid within a container from spilling from a container to which the remote drinking apparatus 100 is secured, yet allows air to enter the container as fluid is withdrawn therefrom. The words “bottle” and “container” are used interchangeably. Any such bottle or container may be made of glass or polymeric plastic material.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the remote drinking apparatus 100 also includes a connector tube 104, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly 101, and which is preferably molded unitary with the concentric bottle caps 102A and 102B. The cap assembly is preferably injection molded from a semi-rigid polymeric plastic material, such as, but without limitation, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or acrylic. A drinking tube 105, which connects to the upper end of the connector tube 104, can be routed to the mouth of the athlete or patient. The remote drinking apparatus 100 also includes an extender tube 106, which slideably connects to the lower end of the connector tube 104. The extender tube 106 can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of available bottles so that the bottle may be completely drained. The drinking tube 105 and extender tube 106 are preferably made of flexible polymeric plastic material, such as, but without limitation, polyethylene.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment remote drinking apparatus 200 is shown as a collection of disassembled components shown in a cross-sectional view: the unitized cap assembly 101 and connector tube 104, the drinking tube 105, and the extender tube 106.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the first embodiment remote drinking apparatus 100 is shown as a collection of disassembled components shown in a cross-sectional view: the unitized cap assembly 101 and connector tube 104, the drinking tube 105, and the extender tube 106.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the one-way valve 103A includes a valve cap 301 which is held against aperture 303 in the unitized cap assembly 101 by a stainless steel spring 302. A sufficient air pressure differential, caused by a user sucking on the drinking tube 105, will cause the valve cap 301 to unseat in order to reduce the differential.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the second embodiment remote drinking apparatus 200 is shown secured to a first bottle 401, of the type in which electrolyte-replacement drinks, such as Gatorade®) are typically sold.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the second embodiment remote drinking apparatus 200 is shown secured to a second bottle 501, of the type in which purified water is sold.

Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter may be claimed. For example, while the disclosed embodiments are designed to fit two distinct sizes of bottles, other sizes may be accommodated in a like manner. 

1. A remote drinking apparatus comprising: a cap assembly having at least two generally concentric bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps; a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly; a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer; an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.
 2. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps are molded as a single unit.
 3. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps and said connector tube are molded as a single unit.
 4. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.
 5. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 1, wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.
 6. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.
 7. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.
 8. A remote drinking apparatus comprising: a cap assembly having at least two generally concentric screw-on-type bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps, each cap sized to fit the opening of a particular size bottle; a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly; a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer; an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.
 9. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps are molded as a single unit.
 10. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least two generally concentric bottle caps and said connector tube are molded as a single unit.
 11. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.
 12. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.
 13. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.
 14. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.
 15. A remote drinking apparatus comprising: a cap assembly molded as a single piece, said cap assembly including at least two generally concentric screw-on-type bottle caps, the top of the innermost cap being part of the top of the other caps, each cap sized to fit the opening of a particular size bottle; and a connector tube having upper and lower ends, which passes concentrically through the cap assembly; a drinking tube coupled to the upper end of the connector tube, said drinking tube being routable to the mouth of a consumer; an extender tube slideably coupled to the lower end of the connector tube; and a pressure-relief aperture in the cap assembly that permits the entry of air into a bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of said caps as fluid is withdrawn from the bottle.
 16. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 15, wherein said extender tube can be raised or lowered to accommodate the depth of a particular bottle to which the remote drinking apparatus is secured by one of its bottle caps, so that the bottle may be completely drained.
 17. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 15, wherein pressure relief aperture is equipped with a normally-closed, one-way valve, which prevents liquid within the attached bottle from spilling.
 18. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one-way valve is biased closed with a spring.
 19. The remote drinking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the drinking tube and extender tube are both made of flexible polymeric plastic material.
 20. The remote drinking appartus of claim 15, wherein the cap assembly is molded from semi-rigid polymeric plastic material. 